[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 172 (Friday, October 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING 150 YEARS OF FAMILY OWNERSHIP AT CORBISHLEY'S MEN'S CLOTHING
STORE
______
HON. LISA C. McCLAIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 17, 2025
Mrs. McCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Corbishley's Men's
Clothing Store, a cornerstone of downtown Bad Axe, Michigan, as it
celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 150 years of continuous family
ownership--a distinction achieved by only a rare few businesses in the
United States.
Founded in 1876 by Charles Corbishley I, a former seaman turned
mercantile clerk who found his passion in retail, Corbishley's began in
Sandusky, Michigan. In 1928, the family expanded to Bad Axe, where the
store weathered the Great Depression and continues to operate today--a
living symbol of resilience, tradition, and community dedication.
Now led by Charles ``Charlie'' Corbishley IV, the store has remained
in the Corbishley family for five generations, making it one of the
longest-running, family-owned retail establishments in the nation.
Charlie began working in the store at age 10 and has devoted nearly 60
years to the business. His remarkable ability to size customers by
sight and his deep knowledge of menswear reflect a lifetime of
craftsmanship and care.
But Corbishley's is more than a business--it is a living museum of
retail and local history. From its Depression-era artifacts to original
fixtures and the ever-present touch of the Corbishley family, the store
stands as a cultural landmark as much as a commercial one.
In 2001, the Michigan Retailers Association honored Corbishley's as a
Michigan Centennial Retailer, recognizing over 100 years of family
operation. Today, it remains a rare and enduring symbol of American
small-town entrepreneurship and the power of family legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 150th
anniversary of family ownership at Corbishley's, applauding the
Corbishley family's devotion across five generations, and honoring the
values they represent: hard work, local service, and the enduring
strength of family in American business.
May their legacy continue to inspire generations to come.
____________________